“I was really delighted to hear the news because some of my former teammates at the Black Stars are shy to be on the touch-line but I believe such steps can help develop our football.

“I will urge most of my colleagues to go into coaching. People like myself, Essien, John Paintsil and my brother Richard [Kingson] will help the game grow because we are going to apply the experience we acquired during our active playing days," he added.

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Essien, who is on a self-imposed retirement from international duties with Ghana, boasts of 58 appearances and nine goals with the outfit.